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Portland Will Not Penalize Uber For Use Of Greyball Technology

Portland has completed its investigation into Uber’s use of a technology to evade city enforcement in the past and is not apparently pursuing any penalties against the ride sharing company.

In a Thursday afternoon announcement, Transportation Commissioner Dan Saltzman said Uber had complied with a subpeona for documents on its use of so-called Greyball technology to evade city regulations before the City Council approved it to operate. Saltzman said Uber is no longer using the technology.

“Uber has complied with our subpoena and provided the requested information associated with the Greyball tool,” said Saltzman, who oversees the Portland Bureau of Transportation. “Through this subpoena process, we have a greater understanding of their activities in Portland, and the extent to which the Greyball tool was used here. Moving forward, we have ensured that no attempts to evade regulators or deny service to riders in violation of City code or law will be allowed in the future.”

According to the announcement, “Uber has since made changes to its company policy explicitly prohibiting its employees or drivers from evading regulators. Furthermore, the City of Portland plans to return to City Council in December of this year with updates to its Private-for-Hire Regulations, including strengthening anti-Greyball language.”